IOWA CITY - The University of Iowa women's basketball schedule for the 2009-10 season was released Tuesday. The Hawkeyes will play 29 games, including 12 matchups with teams that participated in post-season play a year ago (six in the NCAA Tournament, six in the WNIT). Iowa will play 16 regular season games and one exhibition inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

Included on the schedule are five games to be broadcast in high definition on the Big Ten Network, along with one matchup on ESPN2. Iowa's games vs. Michigan (Dec. 6), at Purdue (Jan. 17), at Ohio State (Feb. 4), vs. Michigan State (Feb. 7) and vs. Minnesota (Feb. 18) will be aired live in HD on the Big Ten Network. Iowa's Jan. 31 matchup vs. Purdue will be aired live on ESPN2.

Additional games are likely to be selected for broadcast by the Big Ten Network, KCRG, or other television partners in the near future. Start times for Iowa's non-conference games will most likely be released along with the additional television schedule.

"We have a great schedule for this season," Head Coach Lisa Bluder said. "Our fans will get the opportunity to see us host some tough opponents inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena, and we also have a challenging road schedule. We are looking forward to what should be another exciting year of Iowa women's basketball."

The Hawkeyes are scheduled to play every Big Ten opponent twice, with the exception of Ohio State and Michigan State. Iowa will travel to Columbus for its only contest with the Buckeyes Feb. 4, followed by the Spartans in Iowa City Feb. 7.

Before the regular season tips off, Iowa will host Washburn University in an exhibition game (Nov. 8). Iowa opens the 2009-10 slate by hosting the Hawkeye Challenge Nov. 14-15. Illinois State, Santa Clara and UCLA will visit Iowa City. The Hawkeyes will take on Santa Clara (Nov. 14), with the third place and championship games scheduled for Nov. 15.

Iowa will host Big 12 opponent Kansas Nov. 18, before taking its first road trip of the season to face Northern Iowa Nov. 22. The Black and Gold return home Nov. 24 to meet William & Mary.

The Hawkeyes then travel to Reno, NV, to compete in the Nugget Classic Nov. 27-28, along with West Virginia, Columbia and Nevada. Iowa's first game in Reno is against West Virginia Nov. 27.

Iowa will host Boston College Dec. 2 in the third annual Big Ten/ACC Challenge. The Hawkeyes play their first conference at home against Michigan Dec. 6. The Hawkeyes will then step out of conference play for three-straight games. First is a trip to Ames to take on Iowa State in the annual Hy-Vee Cy-Hawk Series (Dec. 10). Iowa will then host two-straight games, taking on Drake (Dec. 20) and South Dakota State (Dec. 22).

The Hawkeyes return to conference play after the Holiday break with a game at Penn State (Dec. 28). Iowa hopes to ring in the New Year in style with a home matchup against Wisconsin on New Year's Eve.

Iowa plays its next two games on the road, at Minnesota (Jan. 3) and at Michigan (Jan. 7), before taking its first "bye" date Jan. 10.

The Hawkeyes then host Penn State Jan. 14. Iowa hits the road for another tough two-game stretch, at Purdue (Jan. 17) and at Illinois (Jan. 21).

The Hawkeyes host back-to-back conference games for the first time Jan. 24 and 31, against Northwestern and Purdue, respectively. Iowa's second "bye" date of the season falls between those games (Jan. 28).

Iowa is scheduled to play its only game of the season against Ohio State and Michigan State on back-to-back dates (Feb. 4 and 7). After the contest against the Spartans, the Black and Gold will travel to Bloomington for their first matchup with Indiana (Feb. 11).

Iowa will play inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena for three of its final five games of the regular season. The Hawkeyes host Illinois (Feb. 14) and Minnesota (Feb. 18), before a trip to Evanston for a matchup against Northwestern on the Big Ten Network (Feb. 21).

Iowa's final home game of the regular season is Feb. 25 against Indiana, and the regular season finale is Feb. 28 at Wisconsin.

The Big Ten Tournament will once again be held at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, March 4-7.